In an exciting turn of events ahead of the College Football National Championship, the ESPN/ABC "Monday Night Football" crew is set to kick off the final week of the 2023-24 NFL regular season with two crucial AFC matchups on Saturday night. Both games feature teams vying for playoff berths, adding to the intrigue of the weekend.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens are ready to renew their historic rivalry, having faced off on 59 occasions. The Steelers currently hold the upper hand with a 31-24 advantage in regular season meetings, and they have also emerged victorious in three out of four postseason encounters. Recent history favors the Steelers, who have triumphed in six of their last seven matchups, including a 17-10 victory earlier this season.

While the Ravens have already secured the top seed in the AFC, the Steelers find themselves in a must-win situation and dependent on favorable results from other games. In order to clinch a playoff berth, the Steelers need to win on Saturday and receive assistance elsewhere. Their scenarios involve a combination of victories and losses from the Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, and Indianapolis Colts, or ties in certain matchups.

On the other side of the AFC playoff picture, the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts will clash with their postseason hopes hanging in the balance. The Colts have historically dominated this rivalry, winning 32 out of their 44 regular season meetings and holding a perfect postseason record against the Texans. In recent years, the Colts have triumphed in five of their last seven matchups, including a convincing 31-20 win earlier this season.

Both the Texans and Colts control their playoff destinies, knowing that a victory in Saturday's game will secure them a coveted postseason berth. The winner of the contest will also have a chance to clinch the AFC South title, depending on the outcome of the Jacksonville Jaguars versus Tennessee Titans game on Sunday.

The Houston Texans' scenarios are relatively straightforward: a win would guarantee them a playoff spot, while a win combined with a Jaguars loss or tie would see them crowned AFC South champions.

Similarly, the Indianapolis Colts hold their playoff destiny in their own hands. A victory on Saturday would punch their ticket to the playoffs, and if accompanied by a Jaguars loss or tie, the Colts would become AFC South champions. Additionally, a tie between the Colts and Texans, combined with a Jaguars loss, would also crown the Colts as division winners.

As the anticipation builds for these high-stakes showdowns, the odds are favoring the Steelers and Texans according to the experts at DraftKings Sportsbook. It remains to be seen which teams will rise to the occasion, secure their playoff berths, and potentially claim division titles in these pivotal Saturday night clashes.

Be sure to catch all the action as the Steelers battle the Ravens and the Texans clash with the Colts in highly consequential matchups that could shape the AFC playoff picture.